China to enhance paper recycling

Updated: 2012-01-09 20:43

(Xinhua)

BEIJING - China's paper-making sector will eliminate at least 10 million tons of outdated capacity by 2015 while further enhancing recycling in order to reduce pollution, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced Monday.

The world's largest producer and consumer of paper and paperboard products aims to raise the recycling ratio of waste paper to 72.1 percent in five years from 71.5 percent currently, according to the government plan.

The nation's paper-making industry faces resource, energy and environmental pressure, which requires faster restructuring of the sector, a statement on the ministry's website said.

The statement forecast the country's consumption of paper and paperboards will hit 114.7 million tons in 2015 and that consumption will see an annual 4.6-percent rise during the nation's 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015).

Meanwhile, output is likely to hit 116 million tons, the statement said.